GP-Pro EX Ver. 2.50 Reference Manual

32-1

32 Simulation

This chapter provides an overview of the "Simulation" feature of GP-Pro EX and the basic operation for the simulation.Begin reading "32.1 Settings Menu" (page 32-2) and proceed to the description in the desired section.

32.1 Settings Menu ...............................................................................................32-232.2 Checking the Display operation on the PC. ..................................................32-332.3 Checking the operation of the I/O driver on the PC ......................................32-732.4 Checking the Logic Operation on the PC....................................................32-1232.5 Settings Guide.............................................................................................32-1732.6 Restrictions .................................................................................................32-27

Settings Menu

GP-Pro EX Reference Manual 32-2

32.1 Settings Menu

Checking the Display operation on the PC.

Setup Procedure (page 32-4)Introduction (page 32-3)

Checking the operation of the I/O driver on the PC


Checking the Logic Operation on the PC.


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10:09 Abnormal Pressure10:10 Abnormal Temp.10:11 Insufficient Materials

You can check the operation on the PC.

You can check the operation of variables on the PC.

You can check the operation of a logic program on the PC.



32.2 Checking the Display operation on the PC.

32.2.1 Introduction

Using the simulation feature, you can verify how the project operates before transferring it to the device/PLC. You do not have to save the project before simulating, making it ideal for debugging as you edit and create the project. You can even keep simulation running while you open and edit a different project in GP-Pro EX.

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32.2.2 Setup Procedure

1 Open the project file you want to simulate. From the [Project (F)] menu, select [Simulation (L)].

• Please refer to the Settings Guide for details."32.5.1 Setting Guide for [GP-Pro EX Simulation]" (page 32-17)"32.5.2 [Address View] Setting Guide" (page 32-21)

• You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+T to start simulation.• You can also click from the State bar to start simulation.

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2 [GP-Pro EX Simulation] is displayed.

3 You can check the operation of the project file in progress through [GP-Pro EX Simulation] located at the top of the screen.

• If you simulate a different project file or the current project file after you make edits, select [Simulation (L)] from the [Project (F)] menu again.



4 [Address View] allows you to display a list and edit the current value of the virtual device/PLC address used for simulation. Select the item you want to view from the [Object] pane (Base Screen)

5 In the [Address View], set the screen number from [Number] to switch the address display screen. (For example, 10)

6 To toggle the bit address ON or OFF, click in the [State] field. To change the value in a word address in [Address View], select the value in the [State] field and make the change.

7 Select [Exit from Simulation (X)] from the [Simulation (S)] menu or click to exit the simulation feature. [GP-Pro EX Simulation] and [Address View] will be closed.

• If [Address View] does not display, select [Preview (W)] and then [Address (D)] from the [View (V)] menu, or click .

• If [I/O View] or [Logic View] is displayed over the [Address View], click the [Address] tab to bring [Address View] to the front.

• The backup file data for SRAM is deleted after the simulation ends. To save the backup file, select [Configure Memory (M)] from the [Option (O)] menu or click . If you select the [Backup the PLC device] check box from the [Configure Device Memory] dialog box, the data of the same address can be read when the same file is opened again.



32.3 Checking the operation of the I/O driver on the PC

32.3.1 Introduction

Before transferring the project file, you can confirm the current address value by simulating the address allocated to the I/O Terminal of the I/O Driver to control external I/O. Some I/O Drivers allow you to switch Input ON/OFF and update the current value when you enter a value.






• Please refer to the Settings Guide for details."32.5.1 Setting Guide for [GP-Pro EX Simulation]" (page 32-17)"32.5.3 [I/O View] Settings Guide" (page 32-24)






3 Select [Preview (W)] and point to [I/O(I)] from the [View (V)] menu, or click . [I/O View] appears.


• If [Address View] or [Logic View] is displayed over the [I/O View], click the [I/O] tab to bring the [I/O View] to the front.



4 In [I/O View], you can view or change the current value of the address allocated to the I/O Terminal of the I/O Driver. Select the I/O Driver to display from [I/O Driver List]. The Basic screen of the I/O Driver displays.(For example: DIO Driver)

5 Click to extend the window of the Driver display area over the entire screen.

6 By pointing the cursor to the icon, the name of the variable displays.



7 By clicking [Details], the detail screen of the I/O Driver displays.

8 Click when you want to switch ON/OFF the bit address. This changes the ON/OFF state by clicking.

9 To enter a new value for the current Integer type address, enter the value and then press the [ENTER] key. This updates the current value.

10 Select [Exit from Simulation (X)] from the [Simulation (S)] menu of [GP-Pro EX Simulation] or click to exit the simulation feature. [GP-Pro EX Simulation], [Address View], and [I/O View] will close.

• The backup file data for SRAM is deleted after the simulation ends. To save the backup file, select [Configure Memory (M)] from the [Option (O)] menu or click . If you select the [Backup the PLC device] check box in the [Device Memory Settings] dialog box, the data of the same address can be read when the same file is re-opened.



32.4 Checking the Logic Operation on the PC.

32.4.1 Introduction

You can check the operation of the logic program before you transfer the project file and without connecting to the GP.You can check the symbol variable ON/OFF state or current values. This is useful for debugging the logic program.






• Please refer to the Settings Guide for details."32.5.1 Setting Guide for [GP-Pro EX Simulation]" (page 32-17)"32.5.4 [Logic View] Settings Guide" (page 32-26)









3 Select [Preview (W)] and point to [Logic (L)] from the [View (V)] menu, or click . [Logic View] is displayed.

4 From [Screen List], double-click the logic program you want to display. In the [Logic View], operational status of the logic program is shown with green lines.(For example, MAIN A Manufacturing System)

• If [Address View] or [I/O View] is displayed on the front, click the [Logic] tab to bring the [Logic View] to the front.



5 In order to switch the symbol variables ON/OFF, right-click to select [ON]/[OFF] or [Force ON]/[Force OFF].

6 In order to change the current value of the symbol variables, right-click the value and select [Edit] or double-click on the value to change it. This updates the current value.

7 To stop the logic program, click (Stop) or select (Pause).8 Select [Exit from Simulation (X)] from the [Simulation (S)] menu of [GP-Pro EX

Simulation] or click to exit the simulation feature. [GP-Pro EX Simulation], [Address View], [I/O View], and [Logic View] will close.

• When you specify [Force ON] or [Force OFF], the symbol variable keeps its ON or OFF state until you remove forces.

• The backup file data for SRAM is deleted after the simulation ends. To save the backup file, select [Configure Memory (M)] from the [Option (O)] menu or click . If you select the [Backup the PLC device] check box in the [Device Memory Settings] dialog box, the data of the same address can be read when the same file is re-opened.

Settings Guide


32.5 Settings Guide

32.5.1 Setting Guide for [GP-Pro EX Simulation]

Setting Description

Menu Bar The menu to simulate displays. When you point to a menu item, a pull-down menu appears.

Continued

Menu BarTool Bar

View Display

Simulation Display Area

Status Bar

View Switch

Settings Guide


Men

u B

ar

Simulation

• In [Simulation screen], select [Utility] and point to [Save Screen]Or click to saves the screen image in a JPEG file format.

• You can specify the quality of the screen capture screen to save in the [Screen/Video Capture Settings]'s [Capture Image Quality] field.

Save in (Before GP-Pro EX 2.20)C:\Program Files\Pro-face\GP-Pro EX ∗∗∗\CFA00\CAPTURE (∗∗∗ stores the version number)

Save in (GP-Pro EX 2.20 or later on Windows® 2000 or XP)C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Pro-face\GP-Pro EX ***\Simulator\CFA00\CAPTURE (∗∗∗ stores the version number)

File Name"CAP + year, month, day, hours, minutes, seconds, and automatically generated three digit number + .jpg". You cannot change how this file-name is generated.

• [Simulation Exit]Exit simulation.

• You can exit the simulation by using any of the following methods:•Click in [GP-Pro EX Simulation]•Click on the tool bar•Right-click the simulation display area.

Select [Close] from the menu.

Display

• [Toolbar]Switch the show/hide for the Toolbar.

• [Status Bar]Switch the show/hide for the Status.

• Select [View] and point to [Address]/[I/O]•Address View

Switch the show/hide for the Address View.This displays or hides the current value of the virtual device/PLC address for the simulation function. Click to display/hide. For more information on [Address View], see the following.

"32.5.2 [Address View] Setting Guide" (page 32-21)•I/O View

Switch the show/hide for the I/O View. This displays or hides the cur-rent value of the virtual device/PLC address set in the I/O View screen. Click to display/hide. For more information on [I/O View], see the following.

"32.5.2 [Address View] Setting Guide" (page 32-21)

Continued

Setting Description

Settings Guide


Men

u B

ar

Option

• Memory settingsWhen you select this, the [Device Memory Settings] dialog appear as follows. You can backup or initialize the data of the virtual device/PLC address. to open the dialog box.

•Back up PLC DeviceWhen you exit the simulation, specify whether to back up the virtual device/PLC address. By backing up, you can retrieve the data from the same address when you open the same file.

•Initialize PLC DeviceSelect [Initialize PLC Device] to clear all of the virtual device/PLC address data to 0.

View

• [Tile Horizontally]When you display multiple views, windows appear tiled from top to bot-tom.You can click to do the same operation.

• [Tile Vertically]When you display multiple views, the views can be laid out into a right and left half.You can click to do the same operation.

Tool Bar

• Select the show/hide of Address View.• Select display/hide for I/O View.• Select display/hide for Logic View.• Divide views horizontally.• Divide views vertically.• Produce a hard copy of an HMI screen.• Configure Device Memory.• Exit simulation.

Simulation Display Area

Displays the simulation results for the project file on the Edit screen, where you can check the operation of the file.

View Display Area

This is the area for displaying [Address View], [I/O View] and [Logic View].[Address View], [I/O View] and [Logic View] can be separated from [GP-Pro EX Simulation] when you drag and drop.

View Switch Tab Tabs of the Views on the screen display. Click a tab to change the view.Status Bar Displays the model of display unit.

Setting Description

Settings Guide


Right-click menuThe following menu appears when you right-click the simulation view screen.

Setting Description

Screen Change

The [Display Number Select] dialog box appears. You can switch the display screen.

Screen Number Specify the base screen number that you want to switch to in the range of 1 to 9999. Only screens in the project can be opened in the Simulation.

List Displays the screen number and title.Open Open the selected screen.Close Close the dialog box.

Settings Guide


32.5.2 [Address View] Setting Guide

Setting Description

Object

Select the object items of the address you want to display in [Address View].

• If the objects are other than [Symbol Variable], the variables which are not used do not display in [Address View] of simulation even though you have registered variables. When the objects are [Symbol Variable], all variables display regardless of whether they are used or not.

Number

Define the screen number you want to view with 5 digits or less.

• You can only specify this when selecting [Base Screen], [Window Screen], or [Video Module Window] as the [Object].

• If you set up a [Screen Number] that cannot be saved, the number will appear in red.

The address information of the connected device for the screen before or after the screen input in [Screen Number].

Open Screen Displays the screen that contains the [Screen Number] on [Simulation View].

Continued

Settings Guide


Search Options If you search for a string in [Screen], [ID/No./Rung], [Function], and [Address], all address information that includes the string is displayed.

Device/PLC Select the device/PLC in the project file that you want to view: [All Devices/PLCs], [PLC1], [#INTERNAL], or [Symbol Variable].

Type Select the address type to display.When you select [All Types], all types of addresses display.

Format

For the display [State] and data input formats, select [Oct], [Dec], [Dec (+/−)], [Hex], [BCD] or [Float]. The format of all the display data changes.

Display Select Area

The address information selected from [Object], [Number], [Device/PLC] and [Type] is displayed. You can select one line at the same time. Multiple lines cannot be selected at the same time.• Screen

The active screen number and the settings are displayed.• Location

The ID of components in use, the group of address, the block number and the line number are displayed.

• FeatureDisplays which address is used by each function.

• AddressDisplays the device/PLC name and address

• StateThe current value changed to a [Type] string is displayed. If the current value cannot be displayed, [Retrieving] is displayed.

• Saves the watch list/Delete watch listSaves or deletes the active device/PLC address.

• When you select [Watch List] in [Object], you can [Delete].Continued

Setting Description

Bit Length Format Input/Display Range

16 Bit

Dec 0 to 65535Dec(+/−) −32768 to 32767

Hex0 to FFFF(h)0 to FFFF(h)

Oct0 to 177777(o)0 to 177777(o)

BCD 0 to 9999

32 Bit

Dec 0 to 4294967295Dec(+/−) −2147483648 to 2147483647

Hex0 to FFFFFFFF(h)0 to FFFFFFFF(h)

BCD 0 to 99999999Float ±1.175494351e−38 to ±3.402823466e+38

Settings Guide


Save watch list

Saves the active device/PLC address in the watch list. When you save addresses in the watch list, you can confirm all addresses at one time.

• When you select [Watch List] in [Object], you can only [delete].• The Watch List is common for all projects. Once an address is added to

the watch list, that item is not removed unless specified. When a previously added address is not used in the current simulated project, then the address appears in red. Although you cannot display or edit red address values, you can remove them.

Current Value Editing Change the current value. The assignable value range varies by the selected [Format].

Status Bar

The following message shows the communication status of the simulation.Initialize: Starting communication with the simulator.Communication (Normally):Retrieving current value from the simulator.Communication Error:Unable to connect to the simulator.

Setting Description

Settings Guide


32.5.3 [I/O View] Settings Guide

Setting Description

I/O Driver List Displays the list of the I/O Driver registered in the current edited project file. Select the I/O Driver to display in the Driver Detail Display Area.

Driver Detail Display Area

From the simulation, you can check the performance operation of the I/O Driver selected from the I/O Driver List.The Display Method differs depending on the selected I/O Driver.

Introduction Change the Detail Screen/Basic Screen.

Current Value

• Bit TypeDisplays (ON)/ (OFF).

• When you click , it switches ON/OFF for some I/O Drivers. You cannot perform output operations.

• DIO Driver, FLEX NETWORK Driver's DIO, LT Built-in DIO (STD) Driver's standard IO, EX module (EXM) Driver's DIO IO When the status is , you can move the focus with the [TAB], [Up], [Down], [Left], and [Right] keys. Also, you can switch ON/OFF with the [SPACE] key.

• LT Built-in DIO Driver (STD)'s PWM Output/PLS Output, EXM Module (EXM) Driver's Analogue IO

You can move the focus by [TAB].Continued

I/O Driver List

Driver Detail Display

I/O Driver Change Change View

Settings Guide


Driv

er D

etai

l Dis

play

Are

a

Current Value

• Integer TypeDisplays numeric values. When you start typing, the current value dis-play stops.Enter numeric values and press the [ENTER] key. If you press a key other than the [ENTER] key or do other operations, anything you type is canceled.•Switch Decimal/Hexadecimal

Decimal and hexadecimal systems are supported. Click to dis-play the numeric numbers in hexadecimal and click to display them in decimal. You can switch the decimal/hexadecimal for every variable.

•Slider BarWhen you select the FLEX NETWORK Driver, you can move the slider bar to display the current value in the edit box and the box below the slider bar depending on the position of the knob.Click the [ENTER] key to update the current value on the slider posi-tion.

• You can move the focus by [TAB].

• RangeWhen you select the analog of the FLEX NETWORK Driver, select the Input/Output range.

I/O Driver Change Tab

Displays tabs of displayed I/O drivers. Click a tab to switch to the individual I/O Driver settings.

Change View

• Displays the windows in Driver Display Area in layers.• Displays the windows in Driver Display Area in the upper and lower

half.• Maximizes the windows in Driver Display Area.

Setting Description

Settings Guide


32.5.4 [Logic View] Settings Guide

Setting Description

Screen ListDisplays the list of the logic names/titles of the logic programs created in the current edited project file. Double-click to display the logic program in the logic program display area.

Tool Bar

• Runs the logic program.• Stops the logic program.• Resets the logic program.• Pauses the logic program.• Executes one scan of the logic.• Enables/Disables the forced change.• Specifies the logic program's detailed display area's update rate.

Logic Name/Title The logic names and titles of the logic programs displayed on the logic program display area will be displayed.

Logic Program Display Area

Results of the simulation of the logic program selected in the Screen List are displayed. Green lines show the operating status.You can check/change ON/OFF and the current values of the symbol variables.

Logic Program Detail Display

Logic Name/TitleTool Bar

Screen List

Settings Guide


32.6 Restrictions

32.6.1 Restrictions on Simulation

• Some functions may operate properly in simulation even if they are configured beyond the upper limit number of parts or addresses. Check the upper limit values for each part in the corresponding chapter, as limits may differ depending on the model.

• You can run Simulation on one project at a time.• If the project does not pass the error check (from the [Project (F)] menu point to [Utility

(T)] and select [Error Check (E)]), it will not run in Simulation.• Simulation does not work while WinGP is running.• With Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2, when you start Simulation it may display an

error message indicating that the Windows firewall is blocking the application. In that case, select [Release Block] and continue with the Simulation operation.

• When the installation destination of the GP-Pro EX has more than 200 characters and simulation is started, the error message "You cannot start simulation because the maximum number of characters has been exceeded" appears. Simulation will not run normally. Reinstall GP-Pro EX to an installation destination with a path less than 200 single-byte characters long.

• To simulate a different project file, select [Simulation] from the [Project (F)] menu again.• When setting the display orientation to [Portrait], the display is rotated 90-degrees when

you run simulation.

• The virtual device/PLC backup file cannot be read when simulation of a different project file is running, or when the device/PLC configuration has changed in the project. Simulation is started without the previously stored data.

• Some unsupported functions in the model may operate in simulation because simulation does not identify the display model. (For example, a project may have sound settings for models with sound output functions (AGP-3550T), and then you change to a different model (AGP-3500T). When the project is simulated, the sound output function operates. However, the sound output function does not run when this project is transferred to the GP. See the following description of supported functions for each model.

"1.3 List of Supported Features by Model" (page 1-8)

• The SRAM function for PC/AT series, PS series, or PL series can use up to 320 KB during simulation.

• The communication scan value is always set to zero because simulation does not communicate with the device/PLC. Communication status information is not received correctly in simulation.

AB

C ABC

Editor screen display Simulation display

Settings Guide


• In the [Display Unit]'s [System Area] tab, if the [System Area Start Address] is not set up, the project cannot display the System Area data.

• In Simulation, you cannot set up clocks or calendars that use the System Area or system variables.

• When writing data to PLC devices with D-Script, the write results are not reflected immediately. It takes some time to communicate with GP units, but the writing results are immediately reflected in simulation. If you create D-Script taking into account the time lag to write data to PLC devices, simulation results may differ from the actual operation on GP units.

• During Simulation, if you use the [Display] menu's [Option Settings] command to change the language settings, an error message prevents the operation. To change the language, you need to exit Simulation.

• You cannot exit GP-Pro EX while running simulation. Exit the simulation first.• The SRAM backup data during simulation is cleared after you exit simulation.• The following are features unsupported in Simulation.

Feature Details/Menu

System Menu • [Offline], [CF Start], [IP Address], [RGB Settings], [Address Moni-tor], [Logic Monitor], [Device Monitor], [Ladder Monitor]

Offline • Cannot display the offline screen.

Print Feature• Printing alarm banner, alarm history, and sampling data, printing

associated with CSV display parts, printing commands in scripts, and printing screen images does not work.

Bar Code Reader • Cannot read in data from a bar code reader.

AUX Output • Cannot run AUX Output.

Playing Movies

• The Movie Player does not display.• When using a [File Manager] part set to [Select Movie], the File

Manager will not display.• The Save to CF or FTP and the Event Recorder functions do not

work.

SRAM Backup• All data stored in SRAM, such as alarm history, sampling data, rec-

ipes, internal device backup, and the Japanese FEP converter, is deleted when exiting Simulation.

Brightness/Contrast Settings

• The Brightness and Contrast adjustment bar does not display.

Reverse Display • Even when [Reverse Display] is set in a Monochrome model, the display of the simulation is not reversed.

Standby Mode • The Standby Mode function does not work.

Continued

Settings Guide


Retentive Variables

• In the [Edit Symbol Variables] dialog box, even though the Symbol is set to Retentive, the data is erased when exiting Simulation.

Detect Backlight • Detecting if the backlight is burned out does not work.

Remote PC Access

• The Remote PC Access Window Display does not display.

Change Backlight • Changing the backlight color does not work.

Monitor • Address Monitor, Logic Monitor, Device Monitor, and Ladder Monitor features do not work.

Cross-hairs Cursor • The cross-hairs cursor feature does not work.

WinGP

• Device access APIs and handling APIs do not work, and error mes-sages do not save.

• The switch features mapped to the function keys on the keypad do not work. After performing the simulation on the IPC, the IPC func-tion keys will not work, either.

Special Switch • Operation Lock, Transfer Device/PLC Data

Logic Feature

• Logic, Scan Time, #L_Clock100ms, #L_Clock1sec, #L_Clock1min, Timer Instruction, PID Instruction, and Constant Number System may differ from the actual actions.

• Watch Dog Timer, Logic Monitor, and Address Monitor features do not work.

• The calculation system of Ladder Instructions may differ from the Display. (For example, Instructions dealing with real numbers, SCL Instructions, AVG Instructions)

Online Monitor • Online monitor does not work.

Transfer • [Transfer] tool's LAN/USB Transfer• [Memory Loader] tool's CF Card/USB Transfer

Function Key Features of Hand-held GP

• The operation switch should function only as a normal function key.• Multiple function keys will not work when pressed at the same

time.

Feature Details/Menu

Settings Guide


32.6.2 Restrictions on Address View

• The contents displayed on [Address View] are identical to those displayed in the [Cross Reference (R)] window. You cannot display or change an address (including an indirect address) that is not displayed in [Cross Reference (R)].

• If the objects are other than [Symbol Variable], variables that are not in use are not displayed in the simulation [Address View], even if the variables are registered.

• You cannot directly input the device address to [Watch List] on [Address View].• You cannot display or edit D-Script temporary addresses.

32.6.3 Restrictions on I/O View

• Output operations cannot be performed.• Analog data of the FLEX NETWORK Driver can display to one decimal place.• When [Data Range] is set to [Fixed] in the EXM Driver (Model: EXM-AMM3HT),

operations for the upper and lower limit cannot be run.• When you select the STD, EXM , and CANopen drivers, I/O Driver-dependent display is

not available. Registered variables display and non-allocated terminals do not display.

32.6.4 Restrictions on Logic View

• Online edit, PID monitor, and logic editing are not allowed.• You cannot display the list of the current values. Please use [Address View].• When switching the screen by setting the screen number (for example,

#H_CurrentScreenNo) using INIT in a logic program, some operations may run differently from the actual operation.

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